“I have badly disappointed all of you, for all that I have done I am deeply sorry.”

He said he did not know when he would return to golf, but did not rule out a comeback this year after more time in therapy.

Tiger Woods kisses his mother Kultida Woods after his apologizes for “irresponsible and selfish behaviour” during his first public statement to a small gathering of reporters and friends at the headquarters of the U.S. PGA Tour in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Woods said: “I was wrong. I was foolish. I don’t get to play by different rules.”

He added: “It’s up to me to start living a life of integrity.

“It’s hard to admit that I need help but I do.”

He also insisted there were no instances of domestic abuse in his marriage, insisting that his wife Elin never hit him when she found out about his affairs.

He praised his spouse for showing “enormous grace and poise” as lurid stories emerged of her husband’s alleged adultery.

The world’s No. 1 golfer had not talked in public since his traffic accident on November 27 of last year which triggered shocking revelations about Woods’ infidelity.

The golfer did not take questions from the handful of journalists who were invited to hear him give his statement, and he ended by hugging his mother Kultida.

Woods was dressed in a suit with an open collar shirt. There were no visible marks on him.